Bhubaneswar, Feb. 25: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today directed the health department to prepare a standard operating procedure to handle emergency situation during Nabakalebar of Lord Jagannath in Puri.

Around 50 lakh pilgrims and tourists are expected to assemble in the temple town to witness the event, which is taking place after 1996.

Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said 100 first aid centres would be opened in and around Puri, and 120 ambulances would be deployed during the festival.

It has also been decided that 925 doctors and paramedics from other districts will be deputed for Nabakalebar. Besides, 2,000 volunteers from the Red Cross and St John Ambulance will also be stationed. First aid training will be imparted to school and college students.

Nayak said nearly Rs 220 crore was being spent on developing health infrastructure in and around Puri for the occasion. The district headquarters hospital, three community health centres and 12 primary health centres in the Puri-Konark-Pipili region were being upgraded to create additional 500 beds.

"The work progress has been satisfactory and will be over by March," he said.

A new ward with a 200-bed strength is being built at the hospital, which will be provided with 24X7 electricity and water supply.

The chief minister also reviewed the progress of drainage and drinking water supply.

New water sources are being developed to improve the water supply system. Work is on to dig 60 production wells and install 200 hand pumps, and it is expected to be over by April, said a urban development department official. Provisions are being made for digging 1,200 shallow wells.

To drain out rainwater from the town, which faces waterlogging during rains, a 20km drain is under construction. The authorities are confident that the construction of the underground sewerage system will be over by May. Temporary and mobile toilets will also be installed.

At another meeting, chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati, too, reviewed the progress of road and railway work.

The expansion of Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway is scheduled to be over by March. The public works department officials were asked to complete construction of the peripheral road by April.

The railway authorities were requested to complete upgrade of the railway infrastructure by May.